The questions and
answers provided below are for informational purposes only and you should
consult with an attorney for any legal advice. The Greene County Collector
may not give legal advice and this information is not provided as such.

Does Greene
County sell properties which have delinquent taxes due?

Yes. The properties are auctioned
once each year, on the fourth Monday in August; see
RSMO 140.150.

Who is eligible
to bid on tax-sale properties?

If you are a Missouri resident, at least 18 years of age, and you provide
the collector with an affidavit attesting that you owe no delinquent
property taxes, then you are eligible to bid; the affidavit can be
downloaded from this website. If you want to bid at the tax-sale you should
complete the bidder affidavit, have your signature notarized, and bring this
affidavit with you on the morning of the sale. You will be required to
present your Missouri driver's license or Missouri identification card, on
the morning of the sale. Non-Missouri residents have additional
requirements; see
RSMO 140.190.

What properties
are subject to sale at the tax-sale?

All lands and lots on which taxes are delinquent and unpaid are subject
to sale. In most Missouri counties, including Greene County, properties are
offered when taxes are more than one year delinquent on June 15th and have
not been paid in full by the day of the sale; see
RSMO 140.150 and
140.160.

How many
properties are offered at the Greene County tax-sale?

In a typical year there will be
approximately fifty properties offered for sale. Approximately 300
properties are normally advertised in the first newspaper publication, but
most will have paid their taxes by the date of the sale.

How do I get a
list of properties which will be offered?

Properties will be advertised for
three consecutive Wednesdays, in the legal notices section of the
"Springfield News-Leader." The first ad will run 33 days prior to the day of
the sale, the second ad will run 26 days prior to the day of the sale, and
the third ad will run 19 days prior to the day of the sale. The list will
also be available on this web site upon publication of the first ad, and
will be available in the Collector's office during the week immediately
preceding the sale; see
RSMO 140.170.

Do I need to
register to become a bidder at the tax-sale?

Yes. Registration begins at 8:00
A.M. the morning of the sale. Registration will be held in the Collector's
office, room 110 of the Greene County Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave.,
Springfield, Mo. Be sure to complete the bidder affidavit which is
available on this website, have it notarized (most banks offer notary
service for their customers), and bring it with you on the date of the sale. Completing the bidder
affidavit in advance will make the sign-up process fast and easy; see
RSMO 140.190.

How do I buy
tax-sale properties?

The sale is a public auction. The
properties will be offered in the order in which they appear in the
newspaper publication. The minimum acceptable bid will be the amount of
taxes and sale expenses due for the property. There is no upper limit on the
amount which can be bid, and the highest bidder wins. The bidder, or his
legally designated representative, must be present to participate; see
RSMO 140.170.

When and where is
your tax-sale held?

It begins at 10:00 A.M. on the
fourth Monday in August each year. The sale is held in room 212 of the
Greene County Courthouse, 940 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Mo; see
RSMO 140.150 and
140.170.

When am I
required to pay, if I am the successful bidder?

If you are a successful bidder,
your payment will be due within two hours after all properties have been
offered. Generally, all properties will have been offered by 12:00 Noon.

What form of
payment is required of the successful bidder?

Cashier's check or money-order are the only forms of payment accepted. Cash will not be accepted.

Where do I pay
for my purchase, if I am the successful bidder?

Payments are taken in the
Collector's office, room 108 of the Greene County Courthouse. Please have
the paperwork from the sale handy, so that the cashier will know for which
property you are paying.

Do I become the
owner of the property immediately or is there a waiting period?

There is a waiting period (redemption period), during which time the owner of the property can redeem (buy back) your interest in the property by paying to the Collector the amount of your original investment, any subsequent taxes you have paid, plus interest. This redemption money will be paid to you by the Collector, in exchange for your certificate of purchase; see RSMO 140.340. The redemption period for a certificate of purchase is a one year period beginning the day following the date of the sale and ending on the first anniversary date of the sale. The 90 day notice required by RSMO 140.405 must be sent at least 90 days prior to first anniversary date of the sale according to the Missouri Supreme Court decisions Sneil, LLC vs. TYBE Learning Center and Harpagon MO, LLC vs. Edward L. Bosch and Nancy Z. Bosch, et al.

What is a
certificate of purchase?

The certificate of purchase is the
document the tax-sale purchaser receives as evidence of his interest in the
property. Please do not lose this important document. If you purchase a
property at the tax-sale you should read the certificate of purchase when
you receive it. There is important information in this document with which
you should be familiar; see
RSMO 140.290 and see the sample certificate
of purchase.

When can the
tax-sale purchaser take possession of the property?

Possession prior to receiving a deed is described in
RSMO 140.310. It is recommended that you
consult with your attorney before attempting to enforce any rights granted
to you under this section of the statutes.

What rate of
interest do I earn on my investment if the property is redeemed?

If your purchase is redeemed, the tax & costs portion of your original investment will earn simple
interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum. No interest will be paid on that portion of the investment which is in excess of
the taxes & costs. Any subsequent taxes that you pay will earn simple interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum; see
RSMO 140.340.

How do I get a
Collector's deed for the property?

Before you are eligible to receive a Collector's deed you must follow the
procedures described in
RSMO 140.405. This statute is confusing to
most people so it is recommended that you consult an attorney to be sure you
comply with this statute. Neither the Collector nor the employees of the
Collector's office are allowed to provide legal advice. Please consult your
attorney.